CA2069090A1 - Anti-inflammatory compositions and methods - Google Patents

Abstract

Therapeutic compositions and methods for the treatment of inflammation are disclosed. The compositions comprise at least one anti-inflammatory drug in combination with the lymphokine interleukin-4 (IL-4), which components interact synergistically in the treatment of inflammation. Methods for the treatment of inflammation comprise administering to a subject in need of such treatment an effective amount of at least one anti-inflammatory drug and IL-4.

Description

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~NTI-INFLAMMATORY COMPOSITIONS AND ~IET~IOD i' -Th.s invention relates to therapeutic compoc~.tions and metAods for the treatment of inflammation.
Inflammation is associated wi~h many disease states, suc~ as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, asthmi~ and allergies, and it is ~enerally thought ~o be caused by inflammatory mediators such as in~erleukin-l (IL-l), tumour necrosis fac~or-a (TNF-a), histamine and prostaglandin E~ (PGE2).
Therapeutics used ~or the treatment of inflammation fall into two principle classes, namely ~lucocorticoids and non- teroidal anti-inflammatory agents.
Glucocorticoids (also known as corticosteroids) are among the mo~t potent and widely used anti-inflammatory agents and include naturally occurring corticosteroids siuch as cortisone and hydrocortisone, and synthetic analogues such as betamethasone, dexamethasone, fluprednisolone, prednisone and paramethasone. Non-steroidal anti-lnflammatory agents include aspirin, indomethacin, ibuprofen, phenylbutazone and diflusinal.
These prior therapeutic agents are of~en characterised by adverse side effects such as oedema, 2~9~ pCT/~U~Ot00;5X

hypertenslon, osteoporosis, delayed wound heallng, lncreased susceptibillty to lnfectlon, menorrhea, liver dlsfunction, nausea and vomiting.
Interleukin-4 (IL-4), a product of activated T
lymphocytes has a variety of s~imulatory e~fects on B
cells, T cells and mast cells and may be reyarded as a proimmune, proinflammatory molecule. ~s described in International Patent Application No. W0 87/02990, IL-4 may stimulate .nast cells to produce molecules such as lG histamines and prostaglandlns. These agents have been implicated as 'nflammatory mediators.
To date, conventional compositions and methods for the treatment ~f inflammation have been associated with ~ignlficant dis~dvantageous side effects as detailed a~ove. Accord~ngly, a need exists for compositions and '~; methods whlch avoid these disadvantages while providing effective treaJ~ent of inflammation.
The present lnvention solves the problems referred to above by providlng therapeutic composltions and methods for treatlng lnflammation. Thls inventlon is based on the surprisin~ an~ unexpected finding that IL-4 and anti-lnflammatory agents interact synergistically in the treatment of inflammation, that is, IL-4 potentiates the activity of steroidal and non-steroidal anti-~5 inflammatory dru~s. As a consequence, significantly less antl-inflammator~ drug may be required in the treatment of in~lammatlon, with a reduction in attendant side effects whlch typically characterise anti-~nfl~mmatory treatments.
Accordlng to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a composition for the treatment of inflammation which comprises:
(a) one or more anti-inflammatory drugs; and (b) IL-4 optionally ln the presence of one or'more pharmaceutlcally acceptable carrlers or exciplents.

WO 91/07186 2~9V~'~) Pcr AS has been previously stated ln thls specification, antl-inflammatory drugs fall int~ the categories of glucocorticoids or steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, and non-steroidal anti-infla~matory agents. Any steroidal anti-inflammatory agent may be utilized ln the present lnvention. For example, steroidal anti-lnflammatory drugs may be selec~ed from cortisone, betamethasone, dexamethasone, fluprednisolone, hydrocortisone, methyl~rednisolone, paramethasone, prednisolone, prednisone and triamcinolone. Any non-steroidal anti-inflamm~tory drug may also be utilized in the invention. For exanple, non-s~eroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may ~e selected from aspirin, lnodomethacin, ibuproph:n, phenylbutasone and diflusinal.
Compositions may contai~ a c~mbination of steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, n~ steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, or both steroio~l and non-steroidal antl-inflammatory agents.
Reference to I'~-4 is to be taken as reference to prlnclpally the human lymphoklne IL-4, as described, for example, ln Internatlonal Patent Ap~lication No. W0 87/02990 which is incorporated herein in lts entirety by reference. Notwithstanding the above definition, IL-4 also refers to animal IL-4, as produced for example by ~5 mice, rats, horses, cats, dogs and sheep. The ~eflnltion IL-4 includes all protei.s, polypeptides and peptides which are natural or recombinant IL-4's or derlvatives thereof having IL-4 acS.ivity which are charaaterlsed in having a potentiating actlvity on antl-inflammatory-drugs ln the treatment of inflammatlon. IL-4 derivatives are ge~erally substitution, insertion or deletion variants of IL-4, wherein one or more amino acids are substituted, inserted or deleted into or from the "native" IL-4 amino acid sequence. The IL-4's used in the processes and 3S compositions of this invention may be produced by purification from natural sources using conventional .. . .. ..

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WO 91/0718~ ~ ` PCr/AlJ90/0055 2~
technigues or may be produced by recombinænt DNA
methodology. Generally IL-4 used ln this inven~ion ls homogenous or substantlally homogeneous, that is, ls at least 95~ and more preferably 99% pure as ascertained by analytical techniques such as polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and high performanoe llquid chromatography (HPLC). For example, IL-4 ~ay be produced according to the teachings of W0 87/02990 which, as mentioned prevlously, is incor)orated herein by reference.
IL-4 and anti-inflammatory drugs, particularly steroidal antiinflammatory druGs, interact synergistically over a wide rar.~e of concentrations of both components, ranglng from e~uimolar a~ounts of IL-4 to sterold, to excess of sterol1 or excess of IL-4.
Without limiting the invention ln any way, the molar excess of antl-inflammatory agent over IL-4 ln a therapeutic compositlon may for example ~e between 10~
to lO~.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for thP treatment of inflammatl~n which comprises administerin~ to a sub~ect in need of such treatment a composition comprislng a therapeutically effective amount of:
(l) one or mo~e anti-inflammatory agents: and (ii) a synergistic amount ~f IL-4;
optionally in the presence of one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or e~cipients.
The pharmaceutlcal compositlon may be administered in a convenient manner such as by the oral, intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, lntranasal, intradermal or supposltory routes.
- The composition also may be administered to a human or animal subJect by continuous infuslon o~er a predetermined time period, for example, for 30 minutes to 24 hours. Administratlon may be by way o~ an lntravenous .. . ~. -.. . , , . -, ~ , .

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catheter connected to an appropriate pump, or by gravity feed.
The amounts of and dosage regimes of IL-4 and anti-lnflammatory agents which are administered to a sub~ect will depend on a number of factors such as the mode of administration, the nature of the condition being treated, the body weight of the subject being treated, and the ~udgement of the prescribing phys~cian or veterlnarian. Generally speaking, the anti-inflammatory agent and IL-4 may be administered in ~ combined amount between O.l,ug to 2000mg per ~llogram of body welght per day. The quantlty of the two component: in a unit dosage such as a tablet or capsule may vary fr~m about O.lyg to 100 mg, and the molar excess of anti-inflammatory lS agent(s) over IL-4 may be ln the range ^05 to lOi.
~; IL-4 may be coated by, or adminlst~,red wlth, a materlal to prevent lts lnactlvatlon. "or example, the actlve materlal may be administered in an ad~uvant, co-admlnistered wlth enzyme lnhibitors or in llposomes.
AdJuvants contemplated herein include resorcinols, non-ionic surfactants such as polyoxyethylene oleyl ethe. and n-hexadecyl polyethylene ether. Enzyme lnhlbitors lnclude pancrea~ic trypsin inhibitor, diisopropylfluoro-phosphate ~DFP) and trasylol. Liposomes include water-ln-oil-ln-water P40 emulslons as well as conventional liposomes.
The pharmaceutlcal forms sultable for in~ectable use include sterile aqueous solutions (where water soluble) or dlspersions and sterlle powders for the extemporaneous preparation of sterile in~ectable solutions or dispersions. In all cases the form must be sterile and mus~ be fluld to the ex~ent that easy syringablllty exlsts. It must be stable under the conditions of manufacture and stora~e and must be preserved ayainst the 3S contamlnating action of microorganisms such as bacterla and fungl. The carrier can be a solvent or dispersion ; ` . , . , . . ' . ~ ~., . .' ' ' ' ., , . ,. ! ~

WO 91/07186 ` PCr/A-!90/0055X
2~

medium containing, for example, sterlle water, ethanol, polyol (for example, glycerol, propylene glycol and liquld polyethylene glycol and the like), suttable mixtures thereof, and vegetable oils. The proper fluidity can be maintained, for example, by the use of a coating such as lecithin, by the maintenance of the required particle size in the case of a dispersion, and the use of surfactants. The preventions of the action of microorganlsms can be brought about by various antibacterial and antifungal agents, for examp;e, parabens, chlorobutanol, phenol, sorbic acid, thermerosal, and the like. In many cases, it w~li be preferable to include isotonic agents, for exam~)le, sugars or sodium chloride. Prolonged absorpti~n of the in~ectable compositions can~be brought about by the use ln the compositlons of agents delaylng absorption, for example, alumlnium monostearate and gelatin.
Sterile in~ectable solutions are prepared by incorporating the actlve material in the re~uired amount in the appropriate solvent wlth various of the other ingredients enumerated above, as required, followed ~y ~iltered sterllization. Generally, dispersions are prepared by incorporating the various sterilized active ingredient into a sterile vehicle which contains the basic dispersion medium and the required other ingredien~s from those enumerated above. In the -ase of sterile powders ~or the preparation of sterlle in~ectable solutions, the preferred methods of preparation are - vacuum drying and the freeze-drying technique which-yleld a powder of the active ingredient plus any additional desired ingredient from previously sterile-filtered solutlon thereof.
When IL-4 ls suitably protected as described above, the actlve compound may be orally administered, for example, with an inert diluent or with an edible carrier, or it may be enclosed in hard or soft shell gelatin WO 91/07186 PCr/AI_190/0055~
2~

capsule, or it may be compressed into tablets, or it may be lncorporated directly wlth the food of the diet. For oral therapeutic administration, the active material may be incorporated with excipients and used in the orm of ingestlble tablets, buccal tablets, tsoches, capsules, ellxlrs, suspensions, syrups, wafers, and the llke.
The tablets, troches, pllls, capsules and the li~
may also contaln the following: a binder such as gum tragacanth, acacia, corn starch or gelatin; excipients such as dicalcium phosphate; and dlsintegrating agents such as corn starch, potato starch, alginic acid and th~
like: a lubricant such as magnesium stearate; and a sweetening agent such as sucrose, lactose or saccharln ~ may be added or a flavouring agent such as peppermlnt, oil of wintergreen, or cherry flavourlng. When the dosa~e unlt ~orm ls a capsule, it may contain, in addition ~o materials of the above type, a liquid carrier. Varlous othPr materials may be present as coatings or to otherwise modify the physical form of the dosage unlt. For instance, tablets, pills, or capsules ma~ be coated with shellac, sugar or both. A syrup or ellxir may contain the actlve compound, sucrose as a sweetening agent, methyl and propylparabens as preservatives, a dye and flavouring such as cherry or orange flavour. Of course, any material used ln preparing any dosage unit form should be pharmaceutlcally pure and substantially non-toxic in the amounts employed.
In additlon, the active material may be incorporated lnto sustained-release preparatlons and formulations.
As used herein, the terms Npharmaceutically acceptable carrier" and "excipient" include any and all solvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and anti~ungal agents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, and the like described above. The use of such carriers and excipients is well known in the art, see for example, Remington's Pharmaceutical Science and U.S.

WO91/07186 PCT/A~90/00~5 2~

Pharmacopeia (1984): Mack Publishing Company, Easton, PA.
IL-4 and steroi~al or non-steroldal antl-lnflammatory drugs may be adminlstered to a human patient or animal at the same time, or with a time interval between dosage application of each component. This time interval may range from a few seconds to several hours, and may extend from 12 to 24 hours. Therefore, according to a further aspect of this invention there is provided a method for the treatment of inflammation which comprises admlnistering IL-4 and steroldal or non-steroidal drugs to a sub~ect in need of such treatment.
~ y the present invention, the treatment of inflammation using steroid therapy may be supplemented with low àmounts of IL-4 permitting the use of less steroid with concomitant reductlon in side effects. ~his `,~; is a result of the synerglstic interaction between IL-4 ; and steroid antl-lnflammatory agents such that lesser amounts of steroid, such as 5 to 20 fold less, would be requlred for anti-i~flammatory action.
~0 As previously mentioned, IL-4 also potentiates the antl-inflammatory actlon of non-steroidal antl-lnflammatory drugs. The biological mechanisms which underlies the potentlation of antl-lnflammatory drug actlon wlth IL-4 are unclear. Wlthout w$shing to limit ~5 the invent1on ln any way, lnsofar as non-steroldal antl-inflammatory drugs are concerned, it is believed that both IL-4 and the non-steroidal agents inhlbit the produc:klon of cyalooxygenase produc~s such as prostaglandins. In contras~ to non-steroidal agents, IL-~ appears~to inhlbit the production of other inflammatorymedlators such as TNF and IL l. However, why the combined effects of these agents should be greater than that of each anti-inflammato~y agent ls uncertain. The mechanism behind the potentiation of steroidal action with IL-4 is also uncertain.
In a still further aspect of this in~ention, there . . .. . .. .. ..

WO91/07186 ~ PCT/AU90/0055X

_ 9 _ - is provlded a method for the treatment of inflammation or other dlsorders usually treated with steroids, which method comprises administering to a subject in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of interleukin-4 (IL-4).
Thls aspect of the lnvention is based on the flnding that Il-4 may act as a steroid replacement.
Particularly, the aforementioned compound acts to decre~se the production of inflammatory uediators such as IL-l, IL-6, tumour necrosis factor-~ (TNF-a), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and colony stimulating factors (GM-C'F and G-CSF).
Tne invention will now be described with reference to the following non-lim$ting Fi~ures and Example. The Exampl~s shbw results on the~production of inflammatory media~rs, such as PGE2, TFN-a and IL-l~ by activated monoc~tes in culture, after stimulation ~fth lypopolysaccharide (LPS) and IFN-y in the presence of an,i-lnflammatory agents, IL-4, or combinations thereof, and clearly depict the synergy between IL-4 and anti-inflammatory agents in suppresslng the production of anti-inflammatory mediators. This model system provides direct support for the in-v~vo use of IL-4/antl-inflammatory drug combinations in the treatment of ~5 inflammation, and for the view that lower amounts of antl-in;]amm~tory drugs would be required for effective therapy when they are admlnistered in concert wlth IL-4.
rhe Figu~es of this application sho~ the following:
- ~igure l shows the effects of IL-4 and Dex on the immunoreactive IL-l~ levels of activated human monocytes from a representative donor. Monocytes are cultured for 18 h wlth LPS and IFN-y, together with Dex and IL-4 as indicated. IL-l~ levels were assayed by ELISA. ~he mean level ~ SEM for supernatants ~rom triplicate cultures is shown for many values the SEM was too s~all to be diagrammatlcally represented:

WO 91/07186 2~ PCT/AU90~005s~

Figure 2 shows the effects of IL-4 and Dex on the TNFa actlvlties of actlvated human monocytes. TNFa activities were measured with actinomycin D-treated L929 target cells. Mean activlties + SEM (n=3) were measured in the same supernatants for which IL-1~ levels are shown in Fiyure 1; for some measurements the SEM was ~oo small to be diagrammatically xepresented;
Figure 3 shows the e~fects of IL-4 and Dex on the PGE2 levels o~ activa~ed human monocytes. Levels of PGE2 were determined by immunoassay. Mean levels + SEM (n=~) were measured in the same supernatants for which IL-l~
levels and TNFa activities are shown in Figures 1 and 2 respectively; for some measurements the SEM was ~oo small to be dlagrammatically represented;
F$gure 4 shows the opposing effects of IL 4 and Dex on the PA actlvlties of actlvated monocytes from a representative donor. PA actlvities were measured (A) in the supernatants of monocytes co-tncubated with Dex alone (activity range 0.04-0.14 IU/106 cells), and (~, in th~
supernatants of monocytes co-incubated wlth both I~-4 and Dex (activity range 0-2.0 IUtlO6 cells). PA actlvities were assayed as deqcribed herein; greater than 95~ of actlvlty measured was plasminogen-dependent. Mean activities ~ SEM for triplicate cul~ures are shown; for some measurements the SEM was too small to be diagrammatically represented;
Figure 5 shows the effect of IL-4 and Indomethacin on (A) immunoreactive IL-l~, and ~B) immunoreac~ive TNFa levels ~or stimulated human monocytes. Monocytes from a di~ferent donor for whom results are shown in Figures 1 ~o 4 were isolated, cùltured and stimulated as described;
IL-l~ was measured by ELISA and TNFa by radio~mmunoassay.
Mean levels ~ SEM for trlplicate cultures are shown however, ~or some measurements, the SEM was too small to be diagrammatically represented.

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AB~iREVIATIONS:
DEX - dexamethasone IFN - interferon IL - interleukin LPS - lipopolysaccharide PA - plasminogen activator TNF - tumour necrosis factor FCS - fetal cal~ serum MAb - monoclonal antLbody Assays for IL-1, TNFa, PGE2 and plasminogen activator were carried out according t~ the methods of ~art et al.
(Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 86: 3803; Blood 74: 551;
Immunology 66: 376; J. Lmmunol. 141: 1516) details of ; which are incorporat~d herein by reference ln their entirety.
Monocyte Isolat~on and_Culture:
Monocytes (~95~t purlty) were lsolated from ~O peripheral venous blood by coun~ercurrent centrifugal elutriation and cultured (0.8-l.O x 106/ml~ for 18 h ~n a-modlfied Eagle's medium containing 1~ FCS. All monocytes were stimulated wlth LPS from Escherichia coli 0111:~4 (lOO ng/ml, Dlfco Laboratories Inc., Detroit, MI) and human rIFN-~ (lOO U/ml; Dr. E. Hochuli, Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Swltzerlan'). Dex (Sigma Chemical Co., St.
Louis, MO) was added at O-lO-7M; IL-4 (Ms. A~ Van Kimmenade, DNAX, Palo ~lto, CA.) was added at 0-2.5 U/ml.
Assays:
IL-1~ levels were measured by an ELISA using mAb to ~ from Dx. A.C. Alllson, Syntex, Palo Alto, CA. A
murlne thymocyte comltogenesis assay was used to measure I~-l bioactivity.
TNFa activities were measured with actlnomycin D- ;~
treated L929 target cells and using a human rTNFa standard ~Dr. G.R. Adolf, Ernst-Boehringer Institut, .

W091/0718h 2~ PCT/AU90tO055 . - 12 -Vienna, Austria). Immunoreactive TNFa was measured by - radiolmmunoassay~
PGE2 ~2 0.03 ng/ml) was dete~mined by immunoassay using competitive adsorption ~o dextran-coated char~oal (PG~2 3H/RIA Kit, Seragen, Boston, MA).
Plasminogen activator (PA) activity was ass~yed by measurement of 12sI-fibrin degradation products and expressed according ~o the ac~ivity of a tissue-type PA
(t-PA) standard (National Instltute ~or Biologlcal Standards and Control, London).
E~perimental Results:
IL-1: The changes of IL-1~ protein due to addition of IL-4 and Dex to monocytes stimulated with LPS and IFN-y are shown in Figure l. IL-~ concentrations as low as 15 0.05 U/ml potentiated the ac~ion of ~ex (1-5 x 10-9M).
When the mean levels for stimulated monocytes from four donors were compared, Dex (lO-7M) reduced the IL-l~ levels from 11.8 + 5.6 ng/l06 cells (means ~ SEM) to 2.5 + l.l ng/lO6 cells, while for Dex (5 :. 109M) with I~-4 (0.5 U/ml) the IL-l~ levels were reduced to 1.0 ~ 0.4 ng/lO6 cells. Thus, 20 fold less DEX, ln the presence of IL-4 showed signi~icant inhibition of inflammatory medlators.
TNFa: When TNFa actlvities were qua~tif$ed, 5 x 109M Dex in the presence of 2.5 U IL-4/ml was as effective as lO-7M
2S and 2 x lO-~M Dex (Figure 2). When the mean activitles from triplicate cultures o monocytes isolated from four donors were compared, ~he TNFa activities induced by LPS
with IFN-~ (478 + 188 U/lO6 cells, mean + SEM3 were reduced by Dex (10-7M) to 14 ~ 9 U/lO6 cells, whereas-Dex ~5 x lO-9M) to~ether wlth IL-4 ~2.5 U/ml) reduced ~NFa actlvities to 68 + 40 U/lO6 cells. Similar findings (data not shown ) were obtained using an immunoassay for TNFa.
PGE2: For monocyte PGE2 production, similar results were obtained (Figure 3). For four donors, LPS with IFN-y induced 7.7 ~ l.O ng PGE2/l06 cells (mean ' SEM). Dex (10-7M) lowered PGE2 levels to 0.3 ~ O~l ng/lO6 cells, .
.

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while Dex (5 x 10-9M) with IL-4 (0.5 U/ml) reduced PGE2 levels to 0.4 + 0.2 ngflO6 cells.
Tissue Plasmino~en Activator: Dex and IL-4 do not always potentiate the action of each other on monocyte product synthesls. PA activlty was measured in the same supernatants which were used to obtaln the data presented in Flgures 1 to 3. Whereas increasing c~ncentrations of Dex suppressed the actlon of LPS with IFN-y for enhanced PA activity (Figure 4A), lncreasing concentrations of IL-1~ 4 potentiated it and opposed the supprr.~ssive effects ofDex (Figure 4B). This observation was confirmed in four donors. We also confirmed that detect~ble PA ac~ivity in the monocyte supernatan~s was t-PA and ~ot urokinase-type PA (u-PA) by SDS-PAGE zymography and by antlbody blocking lr' and deplet~on of t-PA activity.
IL-4 and Non-Steroidal Antl-InflammatoI~~ Aqents:
We have found previously that endogenous cyclooxygenase products lnhibit partially the production of IL-l and TNFa by stimulated human monocytes (Hart, et al., Immunology 66: 736). Thus, non-steroldal antl-lnflammatory drugs whlch suppress cycloosygenase product formatlon, paradoxically enhance the levels of these pro-lnflammatory mediators. Figures 5A and 58 confirm these - observations for monocytes stlmulated by LPS ~nd IFN-y, ~5 210-~ indomethacin completely suppressed PGE2 production i (data not shown). On addition of I~-4 a 0.1 and 2.5 U/ml to non-lndomethacln-treated cells, the PGE2 levels induced by LPS with IFN-y fell from 14.7 ng/106 cells to 9.5 and 1.4 ng/106 cells, respectively, when the values were averaged for tripllcate cultures of oonocytes from the two donors studied. Thus, ~n response to 2.5 U IL-4/ml when minimal PGE2 production occurred, the increases ln IL-l~ and TNFa levels measured in resp~nse to ~ndomethacin were removed (Figures 5A and 5B).
These results show that ~hen low concentrations of IL-4 and Dex are added together to cultures of activated WO 91/07186 2 r~ $0 PCI IAU90/OO;S~

monocy~es, the resultant inhlbl~ion of the synthesis of IL-l, ~NFa and PGE2 is ~igniflcantly greater than lf either agen~ were added alone. To what extent the biochemical mechanisms in~olved in the inhibitory actions of IL-4 on monocyte product synthesis are similar to those involved in glucocorticoid-mediated regulation is unclear. Given the w~de-ranging but often adverse effects of glucocorticoid treatment, it is encouragin~
that.IL-4 has at least one different action to Dex on the monoC?te, viz. the opposite effect on the productlon of the flbrinolytic enzyme, t PA (Figure 4). This t-PA-induc~ng property of IL-4 may further support its use with gLucocorticoids because there is evidence that fibrin formed as a result of lymphokine activation of monocyce/m~^rophage procoagulant actlvity, may play a ; role ~n immIne reactions associated wlth disease such as rheum~told arthritis, glomerular nephritis and granulomatous disease.
Those ~kllled in the art will appreciate that the lnventlon descrlbed hereln is susceptible to varlations and modlfications other than those speciflcally described. It is to be understood that the invention lncludes all such varlations and modlficatlons which fall within its spirit and scope. The invention also includes all of the steps, features, compositions and compounds referre~ t~ or indicated in thic speciflcation, lndividually or collectively, and any and all comblnatlons of any two or more of sald steps of ~eatures.

Claims (15)

CLAIMS:

1. A composition for the treatment of inflammation which comprises a therapeutically effective amount of at least one anti-inflammatory drug and IL-4.

2. A composition according to claim 1 wherein said anti-inflammatory drug is a steroidal anti-inflammatory.

3. A composition according to claim 2 wherein said steroidal anti-inflammatory is selected from cortisone, betamethasone, dexamethasone, fluprednisolone, hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, paramethasone, prednisolone, prednisone and triamcinolone.

4. A composition according to claim 1 wherein said anti-inflammatory drug is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory.

5. A composition according to claim 4, wherein said non-steroidal anti-inflammatory is selected from aspirin, inodomethacin, ibuprophen, phenylbutasone and diflusinal.

6. A composition according to claim 1 which comprises a steroidal anti-inflammatory, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and IL-4.

7. A composition according to claim 1 wherein said IL-4 is recombinant human IL-4.

8. A composition according to claim 2 wherein said IL-4 is non-recombinant human IL-4.

9. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the IL-4 is a compound having IL-4 activity.

10. A composition according to claim 1 which additionally comprises one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers.

11. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 10. wherein the anti-inflammatory agent is in molar excess over the IL-4 in the range 10°.5 to 104.

12. A method for the treatment of inflammation which comprises administering to a subject in need of such treatment a composition as claimed in any one of claims l to 11.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the inflammation is associated with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, asthma or allergy.

14. A method according to claim 12 wherein the anti-inflammatory agent and IL-4 are administered in a combined amount between 0.1 pg to 2000 mg per kg of body weight of the subject

15. A method for the treatment of inflammation which comprises administering to a subject in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of IL-4.